Sensor and sensor control method

ABSTRACT

A sensor includes a photoelectric conversion unit including a first photoelectric conversion element array and a second photoelectric conversion element array, each having an array of a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in a predetermined direction, a storage unit configured to store a charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit, a transfer unit configured to transfer the charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit to an outside of the sensor, a control unit configured to serially execute a first transfer control for transporting unit configured to transport a charge stored in the second photoelectric conversion element array to the transfer unit via the storage unit and a second transfer control for transporting unit configured to transport a charge stored in the first photoelectric conversion element array to the transfer unit via the second photoelectric conversion element array and the storage unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a sensor including a photoelectricconversion element and a method for controlling the sensor.

2. Description of the Related Art

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-74421 discusses a sensorwhich includes a pixel array 1a, in which pixels that generate signalcharges by photoelectric conversion are arranged, also includes astorage gate 3a, which stores a signal charge that has been generated ina pixel array.

In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-060598discusses a method for executing a control for discharging anunnecessary charge, which has been stored on a charge storage unitconfigured to store a signal charge, to suppress an affect from theunnecessary charge.

While transferring a signal charge to the outside of a sensor, thecharge storage unit stores a charge (signal charge) of an image.Accordingly, if the charge of the image is stored by the charge storageunit for a long time, a noise (dark current noise (charge)), which mayoccur due to the dark current, may be added to the signal charge. As aresult, the noise may occur on the image signal input by the sensor. Thenoise is approximately proportional to the temperature and the storagetime.

The method discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.2009-060598 can discharge an unnecessary charge after a charge of animage is externally transferred but cannot discharge an unnecessarycharge after a noise is added to an image by the charge storage unit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a sensor and a sensor controlmethod capable of solving the above-described problem.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a sensor includes aphotoelectric conversion unit including a first photoelectric conversionelement array and a second photoelectric conversion element array, eachhaving an array of a plurality of photoelectric conversion elementsarranged in a predetermined direction, a storage unit configured tostore a charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit, atransfer unit configured to transfer the charge generated by thephotoelectric conversion unit to an outside of the sensor, a firsttransport unit configured to transport a charge stored in the firstphotoelectric conversion element array to the transfer unit via thestorage unit, a second transport unit configured to transport a chargestored in the second photoelectric conversion element array to the firstphotoelectric conversion element array, and a control unit configured toserially execute a first transfer control for transferring the charge inthe first photoelectric conversion element array by driving the firsttransport unit and the transfer unit according to a trigger signal, anda second transfer control for transferring a charge in the secondphotoelectric conversion element array to the outside of the sensor bydriving the first transport unit, the second transport unit, and thetransfer unit according to the trigger signal.

Further features and aspects of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description of exemplaryembodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments, features,and aspects of the invention and, together with the description, serveto describe the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary configuration of a sensor according to afirst exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a configuration of a conventional sensor.

FIG. 3 is a timing chart illustrating an exemplary timing of theoperation of the sensor according to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a multifunction printer.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart illustrating an exemplary timing of theoperation of the sensor according to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary configuration of a sensor according to asecond exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart illustrating an exemplary timing of theoperation of the sensor according to the second exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a plan view and a cross section of an image reading apparatus.

FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary control block of the multifunctionprinter.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Various exemplary embodiments, features, and aspects of the inventionwill be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of asensor according to a first exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. Referring to FIG. 1, a first photoelectric conversion unit101 includes an element array, in which a plurality of photoelectricconversion elements (101 a through 101 xx) is arranged as an array in apredetermined direction. Similarly, a second photoelectric conversionunit 103 includes an element array, in which a plurality ofphotoelectric conversion elements (103 a through 103 xx) is arranged asan array in a predetermined direction.

In each of a first charge storage unit (first storage unit) 105 and asecond charge storage unit (second storage unit) 107, a plurality ofcharge storage portions (storage elements 105 a through 105 xx and 107 athrough 107 xx), each of which stores a plurality of charges and whichis arranged in a predetermined direction, is arranged as an array in apredetermined direction. Each of the first charge storage unit 105 andthe second charge storage unit 107 includes a plurality of storageelements corresponding to the number of photoelectric conversionelements. A transfer unit 109 is a register that serially transferscharges. An output unit 110 is an output circuit that outputs thecharges received from the transfer unit 109.

In addition, the sensor includes a transport unit that transports thecharge. The transport unit includes a photoelectric conversion unittransport gate (first gate) 102, a photoelectric conversion unit-storageunit transport gate (second gate) 104, a storage unit transport gate(third gate) 106, and a storage unit-transfer unit transport gate(fourth gate) 108. Each of the gates transports the charge according toa signal, which will be described below.

An image can be read at a resolution of photoelectric conversionelements provided as an array by transferring a charge converted by eachphotoelectric conversion element of the first photoelectric conversionunit 101 and a charge converted by each photoelectric conversion elementof the second photoelectric conversion unit 103, independently from eachother, to an external image processing unit via a transport unit and atransfer unit. In the present invention, a mode for reading an image inthe above-described manner is referred to as a “high resolution mode”.

On the other hand, an image can be read at a resolution lower than theresolution of the photoelectric conversion element array by transferringcharges of a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements in a lump inthe unit of a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arrangedadjacent to each other among the photoelectric conversion elementsincluded in the first photoelectric conversion unit 101, to an imageprocessing unit 900 a. In the present invention, a mode for reading animage in the above-described manner is referred to as a “low resolutionmode”.

For example, if the photoelectric conversion elements are arranged at600 dots per inch (dpi), an image having a resolution of 600 dpi can beacquired in the high resolution mode. On the other hand, if an image isread in the low resolution mode, in which charges converted by twoadjacently provided photoelectric conversion elements are transferred ina lump, an image having a resolution of 300 dpi can be acquired.

A method for controlling the transfer of charges when an image is readin the high resolution mode will be described in detail below withreference to FIG. 3. Referring to FIG. 3, a signal “LED ON” correspondsto a state in which a sensor light source 903 a is turned on at a “high”level and in which the sensor light source 903 a is turned off at a“low” level.

In addition, the transfer unit 109 outputs the charge to the outputcircuit 110 according to signals φ1 and φ2. The output circuit 110transfers the charge to an analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion circuit(an A/D conversion unit 903 c illustrated in FIG. 9) according tosignals φ1L and φ2L. The A/D conversion circuit converts an analogsignal into a digital signal. Furthermore, the A/D conversion circuittransfers the digital signal to an image processing circuit (the imageprocessing unit 900 a illustrated in FIG. 9).

When the signal level of a signal HD_in reaches the “high” level duringspecific time (between timings t401 and t401′), reading on one linestarts. When the signal level of the signal HD_in reaches the “high”level the next time, reading on the next one line starts. The signalHD_in is a signal generated as a scanner unit moves.

When the signal level of a signal ST1 reaches the “high” level betweentimings t405 and t405′, the signal charge that has been stored on thesecond photoelectric conversion unit 103 is transported by thephotoelectric conversion unit-storage unit transport gate (the secondgate) 104 to the first charge storage unit 105. Furthermore, when thesignal level of a signal ST2 reaches the “high” level between timingst406 and t406′, the signal charge that has been stored on the firstcharge storage unit 105 is transported by the storage unit transportgate (the third gate) 106 to the second charge storage unit 107.

Moreover, when the signal level of a signal SH1 reaches the “high” levelbetween timings t407 and t407′, the charge stored on the storage element107 a of the second charge storage unit 107 is transported by thestorage unit-transfer unit transport gate (the fourth gate) 108 to thetransfer unit 109. On the other hand, when the signal level of a signalSH2 reaches the “high” level between timings t410 and t410′, the chargeis transported by the fourth gate 108 from the storage element 107 b ofthe second charge storage unit 107 to the signal φ2 of the transfer unit109.

Subsequently, in the similar manner, when the signal level of a signalSH3 reaches the “high” level, the charge is transferred from the storageelement 107 c of the second charge storage unit 107 to the transfer unit109. Furthermore, when the signal level of a signal SH4 reaches the“high” level, the charge is transported from the storage element 107 dof the second charge storage unit 107 to the transfer unit 109. In theabove-described manner, the present exemplary embodiment executes atransfer control for transporting and transferring the signal chargestored on the second photoelectric conversion unit 103.

Now, a transfer control for transporting and transferring a signalcharge stored on the first photoelectric conversion unit 101 will bedescribed in detail below.

When the signal level of a signal PDSH reaches the “high” level betweentimings t419 and t419′, the charge stored on the first photoelectricconversion unit 101 is transported by the photoelectric conversion unittransport gate (the first gate) 102 to the second photoelectricconversion unit 103. Furthermore, when the signal level of a signal ST1reaches the “high” level between timings t422 and t422′, the charge inthe second photoelectric conversion unit 103 is transported to the firstcharge storage unit 105.

Subsequently, similar to the control for transporting and transferringthe charge from the second photoelectric conversion unit 103, thecharges are transported according to the change of the level of each ofthe signals ST2 and SH1 through SH4. After transferring the chargebetween timings t431 and t431′, when the signal level of the signalHD_in reaches the “high” level, charges of the next one line aretransported.

The signal “LED ON” is controlled to turn off the light source duringtime in which the signal charge is stored by at least one of the firstphotoelectric conversion unit 101 and the second photoelectricconversion unit 103.

More specifically, the light source is controlled to be off until thesignal level of the signal ST1 reaches the “high” level between timingst422 and t422′ and until the charge stored on the first photoelectricconversion unit 101 is transported to the first charge storage unit 105.In addition, in order to read the next line, the storage unit-transferunit transport gate 108 and the transfer unit 109 are driven during timeafter the light source has been turned on (between timings t425 andt431′) to transfer the signal charge of the previous one line.

Now, a control for transferring a charge in executing reading in the lowresolution mode will be described in detail below with reference to FIG.5. In the following description, the description of the same control asthat described above with reference to FIG. 3 will not be repeated.

When the signal level of the signal HD_in reaches the “high” levelduring specific time (between timings t401 and t401′), reading on oneline starts. Furthermore, when the signal levels of the signal PDSH andthe signal ST1 reach the “high” level between timings t405 and t405′,the signal charges stored on the first photoelectric conversion unit 101and the second photoelectric conversion unit 103 are transported to thefirst charge storage unit 105. Moreover, when the signal level of thesignal ST2 reaches the “high” level between timings t406 and t406′, thecharge stored on the first charge storage unit 105 is transported to thesecond charge storage unit 107.

Furthermore, when the signal levels of the signal SH1 and SH2 reach the“high” level between timings t407 and t407′, the charges stored on thestorage elements 107 a and 107 b of the second charge storage unit 107are transported to the transfer unit 109. In addition, when the signallevels of the signals SH3 and SH4 reach the “high” level between timingst410 and t410′, the charges are transported from the storage elements107 c and 107 d of the second charge storage unit 107 to the transferunit 109.

As described above, in controlling the transfer of charges during thereading with the high resolution, the time for storing the charges fromthe first photoelectric conversion unit 101 on the first charge storageunit 105 and the second charge storage unit 107 is controlled to becomeas short as possible. In addition, the charge generated by the firstphotoelectric conversion unit 101 is controlled to be stored on thefirst photoelectric conversion unit 101 until the timing at which thecharges can be transferred to the transfer unit 109 comes.

To paraphrase this, the difference between the time for temporarilyholding the charge, which has been stored on the first photoelectricconversion unit 101, on the first charge storage unit 105 and the secondcharge storage unit 107 during the transport thereof to the transferunit 109 and the time for temporarily holding the charge, which has beenstored on the second photoelectric conversion unit 103, on the firstcharge storage unit 105 and the second charge storage unit 107 duringthe transport thereof to the transfer unit 109 is controlled to be small(or the lengths of the above-described time are controlled to be thesame as each other).

With the above-described configuration, the present exemplary embodimentcan suppress or prevent unevenness that may otherwise occur on an imageto be read and possible degradation of the quality of the image to beread by controlling the quantity of the charges stored on the firstphotoelectric conversion unit 101 and the quantity of the charges storedon the second photoelectric conversion unit 103 to be the same as eachother.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of asensor according to a second exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, which includes a photoelectric conversion element. Thedescriptions of similar configuration to that illustrated in FIG. 1 isomitted, and only different points are described below.

Referring to FIG. 6, the sensor includes a drain (an unnecessary chargeelimination unit or an unnecessary charge discharge unit) 611 configuredto discharge an unnecessary charge that has been generated on a transferunit 609. In addition, the sensor includes a clear transport gate (fifthgate) 601 that transports the charge in the transfer unit 609 to thedrain 611.

With the above-described configuration, the present exemplary embodimentcontrols the unnecessary charge not to be output to the image processingunit 900 a together with the signal charge by transferring theunnecessary charge to the drain 611 after the signal charge istransferred to the image processing unit 900 a.

Now, an exemplary control for transferring the charge executed inreading with the high resolution will be described in detail below withreference to FIG. 7. The description of the same control illustrated inFIG. 7 as the control described above with reference to FIG. 3 will notbe repeated here. In the following description, points in differencefrom the configuration described above with reference to FIG. 3 onlywill be described.

When the signal level of the signal HD_in reaches the “high” levelduring specific time (between timings t701 and t701′), reading on oneline starts.

In addition, when the signal level of the signal ST2 reaches the “high”level between timings t702 and t702′, the unnecessary charge that hasbeen stored on a first charge storage unit 605 is transported to asecond charge storage unit 607. Subsequently, when the signal levels ofthe signals SH1 and SH3 reach the “high” level between timings t703 andt703′, the unnecessary charges that have been stored on the secondcharge storage units 607 a, 607 c, . . . , and 607 xx-1 and on thetransfer unit 609 are transferred to the drain 611. The unnecessarycharges that have been transferred to the drain 611 are discharged.

For the processing, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the signal level of asignal CLR is controlled to reach the “high” level before the timingt703. In addition, the signal level of the signal CLR is controlled toreach the “low” level after the timing t703′. Furthermore, the signallevel of the signal φ1 is switched from the “high” level to the “low”level at the timing t703′.

In addition, when the signal levels of the signals SH2 and SH4 reach“high” between timings t704 and t704′, the unnecessary charges that havebeen stored on the second charge storage units 607 b, 607 d, . . . , and607 xx and on the transfer unit 609 are transferred to the drain 611.The unnecessary charges that have been transferred to the drain 611 aredischarged.

For the processing, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the signal level of thesignal CLR is controlled to reach the “high” level before the timingt703. In addition, the signal level of the signal CLR is controlled toreach the “low” level after the timing t703′. Furthermore, the signallevel of the signal pl is switched from the “high” level to the “low”level.

In addition, when the signal level of the signal ST1 reaches the “high”level between timings t705 and t705′, the signal charge that has beenstored on a second photoelectric conversion unit 603 is transported tothe first charge storage unit 605. After that, until a timing t717′, thetransport control similar to the transport control described above inthe first exemplary embodiment is executed. Accordingly, the controlexecuted until the timing t717′ will not be repeated here.

Now, the control executed at a timing t718 and beyond will be describedin detail below. When the signal level of the signal ST1 reaches the“high” level between timings t718 and t718′, the unnecessary charge thathas been stored on the second photoelectric conversion unit 603 istransported to the first charge storage unit 605. Subsequently, betweentimings t719 and t722, the same processing as the processing executedbetween timings t702 and t705′ is executed. The signal levels of thesignals PDSH and ST2 are controlled to reach the “high” level betweentimings t719 and t719′.

The control executed at a timing t722 and beyond will be described. Whenthe signal level of the signal ST1 reaches the “high” level betweentimings t722 and t722′, the signal charge that has been stored on thesecond photoelectric conversion unit 603 is transported to the firstcharge storage unit 605. After that, the same transfer control as thecontrol between timings t706 and t717′ is executed. Accordingly, thedetailed description thereof will not be repeated here.

<Description of the Multifunction Printer>

FIG. 4 is an external front view of a multifunction printer (hereinaftersimply referred to as an MFP) 401. The MFP 401 includes an image readingapparatus which has a linear sensor having the configuration describedabove. The MFP 401 includes a recording unit (recording apparatus) and ascanner unit (reading apparatus). The recording unit includes an inkjetprinter. The scanner unit includes a flatbed scanner, to which acharge-coupled device (CCD) linear sensor is mounted.

For the structure of the MFP 401, the scanner unit is provided above therecording unit. The scanner unit includes a lid 402, which can be usedto press a document having an image to be read downwards. The lid 402can pivot (open and close) with a hinge (not illustrated). In addition,the recording unit includes a paper discharge unit 403 and a paper feedunit 404. The paper discharge unit 403 discharges a recording mediumhaving an image recorded thereon outside the MFP 401. The paper feedunit 404 can stack a recording medium, such as a recording sheet, whichis used in recording an image thereon.

In addition, a memory card slot 405 is provided on the front surface ofthe MFP 401. The memory card slot 405 is used to mount a memory card,which is used on a digital camera or a personal computer (PC), to theMFP 401. Two types of slots are provided to the memory card slot 405.Furthermore, on the front surface of the MFP 401, a USB connectionterminal (i.e., external device contact terminal) 406, which is aterminal for connecting to a digital camera and an external storagedevice, is provided. In addition, the MFP 401 includes an operation unit408, which has a plurality of operation buttons. Furthermore, the MFP401 includes a display unit (liquid crystal display (LCD)) 407. Thedisplay unit 407 displays a menu and a screen.

Now, the scanner unit will be described in detail below with referenceto FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a top view and a side view of the scanner unit. Thescanner unit includes a glass document plate 501, on which a document isto be set, and a carriage 508. The carriage 508 moves in the subscanning direction along a shaft 513. A carriage motor 507 is a drivesource of the scanner carriage 508.

In addition, the scanner carriage 508 includes a light sourcelight-emitting diode (LED) 502, which irradiates the document withlight, a light guide member 503, which guides the light emitted from thelight source LED 502 onto a document 500, and a mirror 511 and a lens512, which guide the light reflected from the document 500 to a sensor504.

<Structure of MFP Related To Control>

FIG. 9 illustrates exemplary control blocks of the MFP 401.

Referring to FIG. 9, a controller 900 includes a CPU 901. The CPU 901controls the recording unit (recording apparatus) and the scanner unit(reading apparatus). More specifically, the controller 900 controls thedriving of the recording head 902, the scanner unit 903, and each ofmotors (scanner motor 904, CR motor 906, and LF motor 908).

The CPU 901 executes the above-described control according to a controlprogram and a data table stored on a read-only memory (ROM) 906. A RAM907 includes a work RAM used by the CPU 901. The CPU 901 executes thecontrol according to a signal received from an operation unit 908 and aninterface 909.

The CPU 901 executes the control of the scanner unit (the readingapparatus) in the high resolution mode or the low resolution mode. Thecontroller 900 transfers various types of signals to the scanner unit903. A digital image signal is input by the scanner unit 903.Furthermore, the controller 900 includes the image processing unit 900a, which executes image processing on the input image signal.

The controller 900 includes a signal generation unit 900 b, which isconfigured to generate a signal for controlling the operation of thesensor (for example, a trigger signal HDin). After data is subjected tothe image processing by the image processing unit 900 a, theimage-processed data is stored on a memory. In addition, the controller900 includes a recording data generation unit that generates data to berecorded, which is to be output to a recording head.

The scanner unit 903 includes a signal generation circuit (notillustrated) or a control circuit (control unit) (not illustrated),which is configured to generate a signal for driving the sensor based onthe signal input from the controller 900. Alternatively, the signalgeneration circuit or the control circuit can be provided inside asensor 903 b.

In addition, the scanner unit 903 includes a light emission unit(irradiation unit) 903 a. The light emission unit 903 a includes a lightemission element, such as an LED. The light emission unit (theirradiation unit) 903 a irradiates the document with light. The sensor903 b receives the light reflected from the document. The image signalis transferred to the controller 900 via the sensor 903 b and the A/Dconversion unit 903 c. The drain (the unnecessary charge eliminationunit or the unnecessary charge discharge unit) illustrated in FIG. 6 isconnected to a ground of the sensor 903 b or the scanner unit.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all modifications, equivalent structures, and functions.

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No.2010-102519 filed Apr. 27, 2010, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. A sensor comprising: a photoelectric conversionunit including a first photoelectric conversion element array and asecond photoelectric conversion element array, each having an array of aplurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in apredetermined direction; a storage unit configured to store a chargegenerated by the photoelectric conversion unit; a transfer unitconfigured to transfer the charge generated by the photoelectricconversion unit to an outside of the sensor; a first transport unitconfigured to transport a charge stored in the first photoelectricconversion element array to the second photoelectric conversion elementarray; a second transport unit configured to transport a charge storedin the second photoelectric conversion element array to the transferunit via the storage unit; and a control unit configured to seriallyexecute a transfer control for transferring the charge in the secondphotoelectric conversion element array by driving the second transportunit and the transfer unit according to a trigger signal, and a transfercontrol for transferring a charge in the first photoelectric conversionelement array to the outside of the sensor by driving the firsttransport unit, the second transport unit, and the transfer unitaccording to the trigger signal.
 2. The sensor according to claim 1,wherein the control unit is configured to execute the transfer controlsuch that difference between the time for storing charge which generatedin the first photoelectric conversion element array on the storage unitand the time for storing charge which generated in the secondphotoelectric conversion element array on the storage unit is small. 3.The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the second transport unit isprovided between the first photoelectric conversion element array andthe second photoelectric conversion element array.
 4. The sensoraccording to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured totransfer, to the transfer unit, the charge in the first photoelectricconversion element array and the charge in the second photoelectricconversion element array by driving the first transport unit, the secondtransport unit, and the transfer unit according to the trigger signal.5. The sensor according to claim 1, further comprising a discharge unitconfigured to discharge the charge held on the transfer unit.
 6. Thesensor according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit includes an arrayof a plurality of storage elements corresponding to each of theplurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in thepredetermined direction.
 7. A sensor comprising: a photoelectricconversion unit including a first photoelectric conversion element arrayand a second photoelectric conversion element array, each having anarray of a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in apredetermined direction; a storage unit configured to store a chargegenerated by the photoelectric conversion unit; a transfer unitconfigured to transfer the charge generated by the photoelectricconversion unit to an outside of the sensor; a control unit configuredto execute a transfer control for transporting unit configured totransport a charge stored in the second photoelectric conversion elementarray to the transfer unit via the storage unit and a transfer controlfor transporting unit configured to transport a charge stored in thefirst photoelectric conversion element array to the transfer unit viathe second photoelectric conversion element array and the storage unit.8. A method for controlling a sensor, wherein the sensor includes: aphotoelectric conversion unit including a first photoelectric conversionelement array and a second photoelectric conversion element array, eachhaving an array of a plurality of photoelectric conversion elementsarranged in a predetermined direction; a storage unit configured tostore a charge that has been generated on the photoelectric conversionunit; and a transfer unit configured to transfer the charge generated bythe photoelectric conversion unit to an outside of the sensor, themethod comprising: transferring, by executing a first transfer control,a charge stored in the first photoelectric conversion element array tothe second photoelectric conversion element array; transferring, byexecuting a second transfer control, a charge stored in the secondphotoelectric conversion element array to an outside of the sensor viathe storage unit and the transfer unit; and serially executing thesecond transfer control, the first transfer control, and the secondtransfer control according to a trigger signal.